Split level conveyor and collecting means for controlled cooled steel rod

ABSTRACT

The conveyor and collecting apparatus described obtains several advantages in conjunction with the controlled cooling of steel rod through transformation and the ultimate collection of the rod. The apparatus includes a first-level conveyor for passing steel rod immediately after rolling through a controlled cooling zone, where transformation occurs, and a second-level conveyor for receiving the transformed rod at the end of the first conveyor and for transporting the rod to a collecting apparatus. On both conveyors the rod is transported in the form of overlapping, non-concentric rings, although the rate of progression of both conveyors is not necessarily equal, and hence the degree of overlap of the rings may be different for each conveyor. The second conveyor includes means to vary the rate of transport of the rod rings, and also means to stop the conveyor operatively in conjunction with means to cut the rod.

United States Patent Shore Jan. 23, 1973 Primary Examiner-LeonidasVlachos Attorney-Russell & Nields [57] ABSTRACT The conveyor andcollecting apparatus described obtains several advantages in conjunctionwith the controlled cooling of steel rod through transformation and theultimate collection of the rod. The apparatus includes a first-levelconveyor for passing steel rod immediately after rolling through acontrolled cooling zone, where transformation occurs, and a second-levelconveyor for receiving the transformed rod at the end of the firstconveyor and for transporting the rod to a collecting apparatus. On bothconveyors the rod is transported in the form of overlapping,non-concentric rings, although the rate of progression of both conveyorsis not necessarily equal, and hence the degree of overlap of the ringsmay be different for each conveyor. The second conveyor includes meansto vary the rate of transport of the rod rings, and also means to stopthe conveyor operatively in conjunction with means to cut the rod.

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SHEET 1 or 3 a INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS 3 INVENTOR.

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TERENCE M. SHORE ATTORNEYS SPLIT LEVEL CONVEYOR AND COLLECTING MEANS FORCONTROLLED COOLED STEEL ROD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Those skilled inthe steel rod treating art appreciate that controlled cooling of rodthrough transformation is a very desirable practice in order to obtain aproduct having superior or special metallurgical and physicalproperties. Typical references which disclose the l methods andapparatus for controlled cooling include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,390,871 and3,231,432, both issued in the names of D. W. McLean and C. G. Easter.Another patent to these same inventors, US. Pat. No. 3,320,101,describes in some detail the superior product of a controlled coolingprocess. While the present invention is not limited in its applicationto any particular method of controlled cooling, a brief discussion ofthese methods should be useful in demonstrating the inventions utilityand advantages.

The apparatus employed in controlled cooling may include, for example:means for rolling steel rod at an elevated temperature above thetransformation temperature and for continuously depositing the rod ontoa conveyor in the form of overlapping non-concentric rings; meansassociated with the conveyor for cooling the rod rapidly from atemperature above transformation temperature through transformation,whereby the rod is cooled substantially uniformly; and means forcollecting the rod in coiled bundles. In the controlled cooling process,while the rod is transformed from austenite the cooling medium isapplied to the non-concentric rings across the width of the conveyorsubstantially uniformly, and rapidly enough to avoid the development ofcoarse lamellar pearlite. The product of the controlled cooling ischaracterized, among other things, by high tensile strength and highductility, by a light friable scale, and by a uniformity of propertiesthroughout its length; the microstructure throughout the rods length ischaracterized substantially uniformly by the fine pearlite grains,exhibits a minimum of grainboundary ferrite and is substantially free ofbainite.

The substantial improvement in the properties of the steel rod productcan be attributed to the process of controlled cooling. It follows thatany interruption or other adverse variation of the process will have adeleterious effect on its product. It has been observed, for example,that the stoppage of the main conveyor of the cooling apparatusnecessarily interrupts the cooling process, with adverse effect upon theresulting product. Such stoppages are sometimes the result ofdifficulties in the collecting or cutting of the rod in coil bundles, inthat, for example, the rod may get caught in a piece of the apparatusand thereby jam the mechanism.

It is a major objective of the invention to provide apparatus which atonce permits optimal controlled cooling of steel rod and avoids much ofthe complications that result from inevitable breakdowns or variationsin the collecting of the rod. In particular, a major objective is toprovide a collecting mechanism for the steel rod which operatesindependently of the controlled cooling apparatus, such that anybreakdowns in the collecting mechanism have little or no effect on theoperation of the cooling process. These objectives and others willbecome more clear to those skilled in the art by the following detaileddisclosure of the invention, wherein its major advantages will alsobecome apparent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to apparatusfor controlled cooling through transformation of steel rod in the formof overlapping, non-concentric rings, and its collection in the form ofring bundles. In particular, the apparatus includes in addition to theprimary conveyor carrying the rod through controlled cooling, a secondconveyor for transporting the transformed rod to a collecting ap- Oparatus. This second conveyor is adapted to transport the rod at anydesired rate and to interrupt the rods progression, in order tofacilitate its cutting into ring bundles. Accordingly, the presentapparatus includes a first-level conveyor as part of apparatus for thecontrolled cooling of steel rod in the form of overlapping,non-concentric rings, a second-level conveyor for collecting the rod atthe end of the first conveyor and for delivering the rod to a collectingmeans, and collecting means cooperating with the second level conveyor.

The controlled cooling apparatus may be of any suitable design.Preferably, the apparatus includes means for delivering steel rodimmediately after it has been hot rolled at a temperature substantiallyabove the transformation temperature of the rod, and means for formingthe rod so delivered into overlapping, nonconcentric rings on theconveyor. The design of the cooling means may also vary, but it shouldbe capable of rapidly cooling the rod through transformation uniformlyfrom end to end. At the downstream end of the conveyor, after the rodhas been transformed, it is delivered to the second-level conveyor.

The second-level conveyor receives the transformed rod, still in theform of overlapping, non-concentric rings, and delivers it to acollecting means. Preferably, this latter conveyor operates on a levelbeneath that of the first-level conveyorhence, the term secondIevelsincc in this arrangement, it is simplest to receive the rings asthey fall from the end of the conveyor.

The second-level conveyor is capable of operating in conjunction withthe first, but it is also capable of operating independentlyfor example,at a different rate. It is also capable of stopping even while the firstconveyor continues operating, in which case the cooled rod delivered bythe first conveyor collects in a pile at the head of the second. Theprimary purpose of the second-level conveyor is to provide means todeliver steel rod in the form of overlapping, non-concentric rings to acollecting means, in order to facilitate the collection and bundling ofthe rod. In such a manner, the collecting means is operatedindependently of the cooling apparatus, and its operation does notaffect the cooling operation.

Preferably, the collecting apparatus includes means for cutting the rodat any chosen point. This is best accomplished in the preferredembodiment of the invention by stopping the second conveyor at theappropriate time for cutting the rod. In this way the rod can be cut bya suitable cutting device with maximum freedom from crimping andentanglement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This detailed description of theinvention will be presented with reference to drawings of a preferredembodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention having a controlled cooling apparatus, which embodimentincludes a first-level conveyor, a second-level conveyor, a collectingdevice, and a final conveyor which transports assembled bundles;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing thedischarge end of the first-level conveyor, the second-level conveyor,the collecting device, partially cut away, and a final conveyor, takenas all conveyors are running;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the collecting device, including acollecting tub, tractor chains, a plate, a positioning arm, and a shear,with the collecting tub partially cut away and the tractor chainsstopped;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 with the plate having advanced into thecollecting tub;

FIG. 5a is a vertical sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5b, also a view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4, is a view with theplate partially cut away, showing two positions, one in phantom, of thepositioning arm as it advances and catches the rod;

FIG. 5c, also a view taken along lines 55 of FIG. 4, with the platepartially cut away, shows the positioning arm having carried the rod tothe shear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodimentillustrated in the Figures, hot-rolled rod is transformed in controlledcooling apparatus 1, while in the form of overlapping, non-concentricrings 2. These rings are transferred to a second conveyor 3, whichdelivers the rod in the form of overlapping non-concentric rings 4 to acollecting means 5. This collecting means 5 collects and bundles thesteel rod.

The controlled cooling apparatus 1 illustrated in the preferredembodiment is similar to that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,231,432. Withreference to FIG. 1, a coiler 7 receives steel rod 6 in the form of arunning strand at a temperature above the transformation point anddeposits the rod onto a conveyor 8, in the form of non-concentric,overlapping rings 2. The rings 2, when initially deposited on theconveyor 8, are still at a temperature above transformation, but as therings 2 are carried by the conveyor 8 down the controlled coolingapparatus 1 they are rapidly and uniformly cooled through transformationby the action of forced air generated by blowers 9, blowing upwardlyacross the rings 2.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the transformed rod drops off the endof the conveyor 8 through a tub 10 and onto the second conveyor 3. Therod is deposited on this second conveyor 3 in the form of non-concentricrings 4. This second conveyor 3 carries the rings 4 of rod up tocollector 5 where they are assembled into bundles 13 of desired size andcarried away on a third conveyor 14.

The speed of this second conveyor 3 can be adjusted through a suitabledrive mechanism 11 so that the second conveyor 3 can be adjusted to adesired speed or stopped, independently of the speed of the coolingconveyor 8. With reference to FIG. 2, the drive mechanism includes amotor and gear box 26, drive pulley 23, and a belt 24, connecting thedrive pulley 23 to a conveyor drive 25. This second conveyor 3 carriesthe rings up to the collector 5.

The collecting device 5 receives the steel rod in the form ofoverlapping, non-concentric rings 19 and collects them into bundles 13of desired size. The collector illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 is similar tothat disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,360,842, and is an example ofa suitablecollecting device.

With reference to FIG. 3, tractor chains 12 of the collecting device 5receive the rings 4 of rod from the second conveyor 3 and feed the ringsI9 uniformly into the collector 5. The tractor chains 12 are driven at aspeed slightly greater than, and proportional to, the speed of thesecond conveyor 3 by conventional, cooperating means (not shown), forexample, drive chains connecting the drive wheels of conveyor 3 andthose of tractor chains 12. This results in the rings 19 beingaccelerated while being held in a substantially horizontal plane untilthe rings 19 are released. Thereafter, the rings 15 fall into thecollector 5, stretching into a helical arrangement, and form around thepositioning guide member 16 in the shape ofa bundle 13.

When the desired bundle size is attained for the purpose of cutting therod, conveyor 3 and tractor chains 12 are halted. As illustrated in FIG.3, this results in a stationary hanging rod portion 21 connecting therings 19 still held by tractor chains 12 to the assembled rings 13. Ithas been discovered that the hanging portion 21, when stopped, obtainssubstantially the same drop helix every time, due to the positioning ofthe rings 19 on the tractor chains. Since the shape of this helix 21 issubstantially consistent and readily determined, means can be devisedfor accurate severing of the rod portion 21; this results in a minimumof entanglements and shutdowns due to failure to sever the rod atportion 21. Such consistent severing is accomplished in the preferredembodiment by means of a combination of a horizontal plate 18, apositioning arm 17, and a shear 20, as shown in FIGS. 4 and Sa-c.

After the conveyors 3 and 12 are stopped with the hanging rod portion 21in the shape of the drop helix, horizontal plate 18 slides into itsoperative position in the collecting tub 5 (FIG. 4). The plate 18 isdriven by conventional means (not shown). The horizontal plate 18 thuspositions the rod portion 21 such that when the positioning arm 17pivots around on its point 22, the arm 17 can consistently catch the rod21; the arm 17 then completes its pivot, carrying the rod 21 onto theshear 20 which severs the rod portion 21 (FIG. Sa-c). The positioningarm 17 is also driven by conventional means (not shown).

Once the rod portion 21 is severed, the bundle 13 is removed, thepositioning arm 17 is returned to its original position, and horizontalplate 18 is withdrawn. Conveyor 3 and tractor chains 12 are restartedand another bundle l3 begins to form as the rings drop around guidemember 16. Bundle 13 is removed to conveyor 14, which may be anysuitable, conventional conveyor, and is carried away.

The controlled cooling apparatus 1 continues to run even while theconveyor 3 is halted, in which event, rings 2 of rod temporarily pile upon conveyor 3 in the tub 10, until the conveyor 3 is restarted. In orderto compensate for the stoppage, conveyor 3 may be run at a somewhathigher speed than the first conveyor 8, until the excess rings in thetub are removed. Once this is done, the conveyor 3 may be slowed to itsusual speed.

The problems which this invention directly meets lie in the difficultiesinherent in providing a means of assembling and bundling steel rod inthe form of non-concentric, overlapping rings 2, as removed from thecontrolled cooling apparatus l. Any stoppage or delay of the conveyor 8can cause unpredictable thermal changes to the rod being cooled, andrender its properties non-uniform.

The present invention meets the problems in two ways. First, since itprovides means for stopping or slowing the rings feeding into thecollecting device 5 without affecting the controlled cooling process, noharm is done to that rod 2 being cooled through transformation if astoppage or slow-down should occur in the collecting device 5. Also,stoppage of the conveyor 3 at the time the desired bundle size 13 isattained results in the severing of rod 21 when it is in such a positionthat much surer cutting action can be employed. This greatly diminishesthe frequency of entanglements resulting from insufficient severing ofthe steel rod 21.

This discussion of the use of the invention in the devices shown willserve as an illustration of the effect of the invention with specificdevices. Other means of controlled cooling and other means of collectingthe rod into bundles could be employed as well, and numerous variationsof this preferred embodiment will now be apparent to those skilled inthe art in light of these teachings. The primary advantages lie in thosesystems where the steel rod is in overlapping non-concentric rings as itis being collected and where the controlled cooling cannot beinterrupted without risk of detrimental thermal effects to the steelrod.

lclaim:

l. Controlled cooling and collecting apparatus for receiving hot rolled,steel rod at a temperature above transformation, cooling said roduniformly through transformation, and collecting said transformed rod inring bundles, which comprises:

a first-level conveyor including continuous rod-laying means forreceiving steel rod immediately after rolling at a temperature abovetransformation and for depositing said rod on said first-level conveyorin the form of overlapping, non-concentric rings still at a temperatureabove transformation, and means for cooling said rod throughtransformation substantially uniformly throughout the length of saidrod;

a second-level conveyor, operative independently of said first-levelconveyor, which second-level conveyor includes means for receivingtransformed steel rod from said first-level conveyor in the form ofoverlapping, non-concentric rings and means for stopping the movement ofsaid rod along the second-level conveyor;

collecting means including means for receiving said rod at thedownstream end of said second-level conveyor, means for seriallyadvancing and dropping said rings, means for stopping said advancingrings, and means for collecting and forming said rod into ring bundles;and

severing means operative in conjunction with said second-level conveyorfor stopping the movement of said rod along said second-level conveyorand for stopping said advancing rings and having a positioning arm andshear, wherein said positioning arm is adapted to move a hanging rodportion of said rod when its movement is stopped into engagement withsaid shear;

whereby, when said stopping means are operated the last of saidadvancing rings to drop assumes substantially an identical drop helixevery time.

2. The controlled cooling and collecting apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid means for advancing and dropping said rings includes tractorchains; and wherein said severing means includes a collecting tub andguide member for collecting rod rings in bundles and a horizontal platemovable into the collecting tub, when the movement of said rod isstopped, for positioning said hanging rod portion for engagement by saidpositioning arm.

3. The controlled cooling and collecting apparatus of claim 2, whereinengagement means are provided in conjunction with said means forstopping the movement of said rod along said second-level conveyor forengagement of said horizontal plate, positioning arm and shear,operative in sequence to stop said secondlevel conveyor, to advance saidhorizontal plate into said collecting tub, to move said positioning arminto contact with said hanging rod portion thereby advancing said rodinto engagement with said shear, and to sever said rod with said shear.

4. Controlled cooling and collecting apparatus for receiving hot rolledsteel rod at a temperature above transformation, cooling said roduniformly through transformation, and collecting said transformed rod inring bundles, which comprises:

a first-level conveyor including continuous rod-laying meansfor'receiving steel rod immediately after rolling at a temperature abovetransformation and for depositing said rod on said first-level conveyorin the form of overlapping, non-concentric rings still at a temperatureabove transformation, and means for cooling said rod throughtransformation substantially uniformly throughout the length of saidrod;

a second-level conveyor, operative independently of said first-levelconveyor, which second-level conveyor includes means for receivingtransformed steel rod from said first-level conveyor in the form ofoverlapping, non-concentric rings and means for stopping the movement ofsaid rod along the second-level conveyor;

collecting means including means for receiving said rod at thedownstream end of said second-level conveyor and means for collectingand forming said rod into ring bundles; and

severing means operative in conjunction with said second-level conveyorfor stopping the movement of said rod along said second-level conveyorand having a positioning arm and shear, wherein said positioning arm isadapted to move a hanging rod portion of said rod when its movement isstopped into engagement with said shear; wherein said severing meansincludes (a) a collecting tub and guide member for collecting rod ringsin bundles, (b) tractor chains for advancing the rod rings from the endof said second-level conveyor means to said collecting tub and (c) ahorizontal plate movable into the collecting tub, when the movement ofsaid rod is stopped, for positioning said hanging rod portion forengagement by said positioning arm. 5. The controlled cooling andcollecting apparatus of claim 4, wherein engagement means are providedin conjunction with said means for stopping the move- 0

1. Controlled cooling and collecting apparatus for receiving hot rolledsteel rod at a temperature above transformation, cooling said roduniformly through transformation, and collecting said transformed rod inring bundles, which comprises: a first-level conveyor includingcontinuous rod-laying means for receiving steel rod immediately afterrolling at a temperature above transformation and for depositing saidrod on said firstlevel conveyor in the form of overlapping,non-concentric rings still at a temperature above transformation, andmeans for cooling said rod through transformation substantiallyuniformly throughout the length of said rod; a second-level conveyor,operative independently of said firstlevel conveyor, which second-levelconveyor includes means for receiving transformed steel rod from saidfirst-level conveyor in the form of overlapping, non-concentric ringsand means for stopping the movement of said rod along the second-levelconveyor; collecting means including means for receiving said rod at thedownstream end of said second-level conveyor, means for seriallyadvancing and dropping said rings, means for stopping said advancingrings, and means for collecting and forming said rod into ring bundles;and severing means operative in conjunction with said second-levelconveyor for stopping the movement of said rod along said second-levelconveyor and for stopping said advancing rings and having a positioningarm and shear, wherein said positioning arm is adapted to move a hangingrod portion of said rod when its movement is stopped into engagementwith said shear; whereby, when said stopping means are operated the lastof said advancing rings to drop assumes substantially an identical drophelix every time.
 2. The controlled cooling and collecting apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said means for advancing and dropping said ringsincludes tractor chains; and wherein said severing means includes acollecting tub and guide member for collecting rod rings in bundles anda horizontal plate movable into the collecting tub, when the movement ofsaid rod is stopped, for positioning said hanging rod portion forengagement by said positioning arm.
 3. The controlled cooling andcollecting apparatus of claim 2, wherein engagement means are providedin conjunction with said means for stopping the movement of said rodalong said second-level conveyor for engagement of said horizontalplate, positioning arm and shear, operative in sequence to stop saidsecond-level conveyor, to advance said horizontal plate into saidcollecting tub, to move said positioning arm into contact with saidhanging rod portion thereby advancing said rod into engagement with saidshear, and to sever said rod with said shear.
 4. Controlled cooling andcollecting apparatus for receiving hot rolled steel rod at a temperatureabove transformation, cooling said rod uniformly through transformation,and collecting said transformed rod in ring bundles, which comprises: afirst-level conveyor including continuous rod-laying means for receivingsteel rod immediately after rolling at a temperature abovetransformation and for depositing said rod on said first-level conveyorin the form of overlapping, non-concentric rings still at a temperatureabove transformation, and means for cooling said rod thRoughtransformation substantially uniformly throughout the length of saidrod; a second-level conveyor, operative independently of saidfirst-level conveyor, which second-level conveyor includes means forreceiving transformed steel rod from said first-level conveyor in theform of overlapping, non-concentric rings and means for stopping themovement of said rod along the second-level conveyor; collecting meansincluding means for receiving said rod at the downstream end of saidsecond-level conveyor and means for collecting and forming said rod intoring bundles; and severing means operative in conjunction with saidsecond-level conveyor for stopping the movement of said rod along saidsecond-level conveyor and having a positioning arm and shear, whereinsaid positioning arm is adapted to move a hanging rod portion of saidrod when its movement is stopped into engagement with said shear;wherein said severing means includes (a) a collecting tub and guidemember for collecting rod rings in bundles, (b) tractor chains foradvancing the rod rings from the end of said second-level conveyor meansto said collecting tub and (c) a horizontal plate movable into thecollecting tub, when the movement of said rod is stopped, forpositioning said hanging rod portion for engagement by said positioningarm.
 5. The controlled cooling and collecting apparatus of claim 4,wherein engagement means are provided in conjunction with said means forstopping the movement of said rod along said second-level conveyor forengagement of said horizontal plate, positioning arm and shear,operative in sequence to stop said second-level conveyor, to advancesaid horizontal plate into said collecting tub, to move said positioningarm into contact with said hanging rod portion thereby advancing saidrod into engagement with said shear, and to sever said rod with saidshear.